This should be tattooed backwards on the foreheads of the

[Faux pas]

high and mighty...never mind, they probably wouldn't read it. And, if they did read it, they probably wouldn't understand.

"When it shall be said in any country in the world my poor are happy; neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them; my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars; the aged are not in want; the taxes are not oppressive; the rational world is my friend, because I am a friend of its happiness: When these things can be said, there may that country boast its Constitution and its Government"
— Thomas Paine (Rights of Man)

[villager]

1. No wonder Paine was banned by the White House, and arrested in France

Taking that "revolutionary" stuff seriously after the revolution is actually "won," well, that just gets you into trouble...

[truedelphi]

2. I imagine many who formed the "mob" actions of

The Whiskey Rebellion were very familiar with the writings of Paine.

[Faux pas]

5. Ain't that the truth.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. That would have to be tattooed in a small font!

[Faux pas]

4. LOL yes, very tiny font and spelled phonetically.

[MedleyMisty]

6. Another quote from around that time

"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."

— Samuel Adams

[Faux pas]

7. That's a good one. Thank you.